Keeping track

One of the hardest thing for me when starting stuff from seeds is keeping track of what’s planted where. The few times I’ve done this before, about two weeks after I’ve started, I’ve lost the labels. I’ve tried the popsicle stick this, I’ve tried keeping the seed packets in the sides of the flats, and neither one of those methods has worked well for me. Stuff gets lost. I think I’m just too sloppy of a gardener.

One of my problems is that by buying the seeds from a wholesale place, the labels are very generic and very unhelpful. The information about germination times, temps, whether or not they need light, etc. is only on their website or in their paper catalog, neither of which is handy when I’m at my potting bench.

This year, I’m going to try something different, hopefully with better success. I printed up all of the relevant information on full size 8-1/2 x 11 sheets of paper. I trimmed them to fit into a plastic ziploc sandwich bag, with the page folded in half. My theory is that it’s now water proof, and I can use the blank side of the paper to write notes on while I’m at the potting bench, so that I can keep more accurate records.

So as long as I don’t lose which label goes with which flat, I should be all set!

It’s actually working out quite well. We’ve had a few problems, when someone who I won’t name but whose name begins with F didn’t pay attention when he was watering and got them all mixed up! But for the most part, it’s a pretty easy system to keep up with, which is exactly what I wanted. I’ve found that it’s better to stick them under the heating mat when the flat is on the mat, rather than putting the plastic bag between the flat and the mat. I’m not sure it makes that much difference, but it might, so better safe than sorry.